Upgrade or start from scratch - a college student's dilemma

[breakingbryan]

I want to upgrade my current setup, which is a Dell Dimension that’s a few years old. I would appreciate your opinions on what I should do. I have a few ideas. My first option is to upgrade the current PC with more RAM and a new GPU. My second option is to build a new PC using a new Mobo, RAM, PSU, and GPU, combined with the HDD and optics drives from my current PC. My budget is pretty limited, I only want to spend a few hundred dollars if I build new. I know I’m not going to get amazing performance, but it will be an upgrade from my current. My goal is not to have a gaming rig, but to have clean, fast performance for anything I may encounter on an everyday basis, and then maybe play a few games on the side.

So, here is my current setup:
CPU: Intel P4 Prescott 2.8g
RAM: DDR 400 SDRAM , currently 512 mb
GPU: PCI expansion slot (integrated video currently used)
PSU: 250 W
Dell Mobo
I’m thinking of adding this to it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814187041
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231030

My second option is to use HDD, optics, and case from my current setup with other new components like these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128357
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182021
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227124
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200034

So, with these ideas and a limited budget, what do you think my best option is. Would the new parts for only $120-ish more be a good enough platform to go with, as opposed to spending the least amount and upgrading the current setup? Please note that I’ve never done this before so it’s probably a bit rough around the edges. I’m open to criticism as well as new ideas. Thanks so much in advance.

[ryuk999]

Originally Posted by breakingbryan So, here is my current setup: CPU: Intel P4 Prescott 2.8g RAM: DDR 400 SDRAM , currently 512 mb GPU: PCI expansion slot (integrated video currently used) PSU: 250 W Dell Mobo I’m thinking of adding this to it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814187041 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231030 My second option is to use HDD, optics, and case from my current setup with other new components like these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128357 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116074 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182021 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227124 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200034

I'd save up your money a bit more for a good upgrade if you want to see some real nice performance.

Do you prefer intel/amd? nvidia/ati?

You don't need to get a CPU fan, the E5300 comes with one.

Don't use that Rosewill PSU, try this PSU, it's a bit more reliable.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371004

[glc]

1. Upgrading the Dell is not cost-effective. Standard PCI is obsolete, you can't get a video card that will make much difference, and the power supply can't handle much of a video card.

2. The only parts you can reuse from the Dell in a new system are the hard drive and possibly the optical drive, and a standard motherboard is difficult to mount in a Dell case. You need to grit your teeth and deal with what you have till you can afford a complete new build. You can't even use the Dell operating system with a non-Dell motherboard.

[breakingbryan]

I have a registered install disk of XP so the OS shouldn't be an issue I don't think - I own it. The HDD and optical are what I knew I could use, I need to take measurements on the Dell case, but I don't see why I couldn't use it. Regardless, I could just pick up a cheap case so that's a minor issue. Thanks for the info about the CPU fan, I didn't realize I didn't need one.

Intel/AMD do not make a difference, nor does ATI/NVidia.

Any other PSU's that are between those 2 price ranges? The one you listed is more than I'd like to spend. Although I suppose it's kind of the foundation of everything so you need it to be good, right? It's still hard to justify spending that much in my mind when there's so many other ones that are cheaper. Is the reliability and quality that much different?

I know it may be asking a lot of you, but since you mentioned it... How much better stuff are you thinking and how much more would it cost me?

So, aside from the case, are there any drawbacks that you can see from my ideas - using the old HDD and optics with the new stuff I suggested? Any practical things I am overlooking? There has to be some, I've never done this before. Thanks again for all your help.

[glc]

It's not the case measurements - it's the motherboard mounting system, I/O shield, and the integrated front panel connector. If your XP install disk was provided by Dell, you CANNOT use it. You do not "own" the operating system disk, you only "own" a license to use it as per the EULA. This is an important distinction.

The $50 Antec Basiq 500 is the cheapest PSU that I'd trust with any kind of halfway decent video card, and you might as well plan for one because you are not going to be happy with integrated video playing any kind of game. The optical drive is only easily reusable if it has a standard front bezel. If it's styled to blend with the Dell case styling, it's going to look really weird in a standard case, and it may not slide all the way in.

[breakingbryan]

I understand what you are saying about the OS disk. I have a licensed copy of Win XP that I purchased myself. It is not a Dell CD. I appreciate your caution about this issue though, I had no idea.

The optics drives were purchased separately and installed, they don't have any strange styling on them that would prevent me from using them on something else. Thanks for the info about the case, I'll look into a new one. Any suggestions on a new case that is not too expensive, relative to my budget?

While I know the Mobo and GPU are not top of the line, is there anything I should watch out for with them?

[glc]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147112

This one is hard to beat at 23 bucks with the free shipping promo. Only downside is it only takes micro-ATX motherboards, but it does take standard ATX power supplies.